Amós 9

Amós 9

Chart from recommended resource Jensen's Survey of the OT - used by permission From Hampton Keathley IV Source: Ryrie Study Bible Amos 9:1 I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and He said, "Smite the capitals so that the thresholds will shake, And break them on the heads of them all! Then I will slay the rest of them with the sword; They will not have a fugitive who will flee, Or a refugee who will escape. KJV Amos 9:1 I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered. NLT Amos 9:1 Then I saw a vision of the Lord standing beside the altar. He said, "Strike the tops of the Temple columns, so that the foundation will shake. Bring down the roof on the heads of the people below. I will kill with the sword those who survive. No one will escape! I saw 2 Chronicles 18:18; Isaiah 6:1; Ezekiel 1:28; John 1:18,32; Acts 26:13; Revelation 1:17 upon 3:14; Ezekiel 9:2; 10:4 Smite Isaiah 6:3,4; Zechariah 11:1,2 lintel or, chapiter, or knop. cut them. or, wound them. in the head. Ps 68:21; Habakkuk 3:13 shall not flee 2:14,15; Isaiah 24:17,18; 30:16; Jeremiah 48:44 ADONAI SHOUTS ORDERS OF JUDGMENT Beloved, it would be easy to read Amos 9:1-4 and say "Woe, that's a horrible fate for the idolatrous Israelites!" But lest we read it too fast, we need to ponder the thought that God takes four verses to describe the certitude and the thoroughness of their destruction. And then ponder the thought that this is but a "preview of coming attractions" so to speak. In other words, as bad as their temporal destruction would be, it pales in comparison to eternal destruction for all who reject God and His Gospel of grace. May this horrible, but very real truth, constrain us, impel us, drive us to seek to be led by and empowered by the Spirit of Jesus to share the life saving Gospel with every soul with which God allows us to have a "divine appointment!" And do not be shy about this, for if you are filled with the Spirit, you are filled with His fruit of boldness (cf Acts 4:31+, etc). You may not have a theological degree, an M.A. or ThD, but you do have a "B.A.," for you have been Born Again and the Spirit of Christ, the living God, indwells you. And do not worry if you get it perfect! God is able to take a few loaves and feed 5000, so He can surely take your seemingly meager offering and feed a hungry soul with the seed of the Gospel. Just be sure to try to explain the complete Gospel, of which most of the world has only a vague inkling (and sadly that includes many who would profess to be Christians!) Here is one simple version - You have sinned and the wages of sin are death. God sent a Redeemer to pay for our sins and He paid by dying on a Cross, was buried and then rose from the dead, conquering not only sin but death. He has come once and will come again. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved (see Acts 16:31+, see Paul's summary "definition" of the Gospel in 1 Cor 15:1-8+). You can say more about the need for repentance, for genuine faith, for faith that shows itself authentic by its good works, etc. And you may have time to elaborate, but in less than 60 seconds you can speak words of eternal life to them (John 6:68, 63). How can you pass up such an incredible opportunity?! And we think God's judgment too harsh or unfair, remember that Jehovah Himself had warned Israel through His mouthpiece Amos For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel, “Seek (a command not a suggestion!) Me (WHY? WHAT PURPOSE?) that you may live. 5 “But do not resort to Bethel and do not come to Gilgal, Nor cross over to Beersheba; For Gilgal will certainly go into captivity And Bethel will come to trouble. 6 “Seek (a second command not a suggestion!) the LORD (WHY? WHAT PURPOSE?) that you may live, (NOW THE CONSEQUENCES FOR REFUSING TO SEEK THE LORD) Or He (WHO?) will break forth like a fire, O house of Joseph (i.e. the kingdom of Israel, named here for the father of the two chief tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh; cf. Amos 5:15), And it will consume with none to quench it (DESCRIBING THE THOROUGHNESS OF GOD'S JUDGMENT - cf Amos 5:2) for Bethel, 7 For those who turn justice into wormwood And cast righteousness down to the earth.” (Amos 5:4-7) I saw the Lord standing beside the altar - The prophet's five visions of judgment had begun in Amos 7:1 and this is his fifth and final vision. The position of the Lord (Adonai) is significant. The altar usually speaks of mercy through judgment upon a substitutionary sacrifice (cp. Jn12:31-33), but when altar and sacrifice are despised, the altar becomes a place of judgment only.